My Day at LA Wine Fest 2011

Once again, I tried to tackle a large tasting in an hour.  But this time, and the first time in a long time, I failed.  It took me three and a half hours to get through the lineup listed below.

I saw many familiar faces: wine (Rob Barnett of Vin Village), tequila, sake (Yoshi Murakami) and scotch (Chris Uhde) reps from past years.  And found many wine pals: Jeannie Wagner the assistant manager from Roman Holiday Wine Lounge,  newlywed’s Ben and Renee Mason from the blog Hipster Enology, Tuanni Price…

And working hard for the fest: Denise Lowe, Xochitl Maiman, John Dickey and Brandon Drake.  I did spy Dr. Joel Fisher, the LA Wine Fest Founder, but didn’t get the chance to say hello and thank him for inviting us.  (THANKS JOEL!)

Though I visited with more friends than usual, I tried hard to spend just as much of my time networking with pals as I did drinking.  It IS in my job description.

I highlighted the wineries below that I visited and that I liked.  But, as usual, don’t judge the ones I didn’t highlight – some tables were too darn popular for this wine writer to wait for when so many were calling.  So, in keeping with some fairness, I have lifted the entire list from the LAWineFest.com website, for your virtual tasting.

I didn’t copy over any of the “Lifestyle” participants but I did spend time and thoroughly enjoyed the idea of the wine wipes from Borracha keeping my pearly whites white, the Garlic Graters, LocalWineEvents.com, Scentsy Wickless Candles run by local wine friend Mary Gregory (marygregory1128@aol.com) and the smart young couple that runs SanTasti palate cleansing waters (new flavor and larger bottle coming soon!)

B&E Vineyards, Paso Robles
BarBQue Cellars, Paso Robles
Bixler Vineyards, California
Briar Rose Winery, Temecula
Caliza Winery, Paso Robles

Cielo Estate Wineyard
Clos Pepe, Santa Rita Hills
D’Anbino Vineards and Cellars, Paso Robles
Darms Lane Vineyard, Napa
Derby Winery, Paso Robles
2008 Pinot Gris
2008 Pinot Noir
2007 Fiteen 10 – White
2006 Fiteen 10 – Red
2006 Implico
2006 Petite Sirah
WJ Deutsch & Co.
Crossings Winery, New Zealand
Vidal Fleury Cotes du Rhone, France
Chateau Bonnet, Bordeaux, France
George Debouef, Beaujolais, France
Hob Nob Winery, France
Ruta 22 Winery, Argentina
Villa Pozzi, Italy
Yellow Tail Wines, Australia
Dutcher Crossing Winery, Sonoma
Firestone Walker Brewery, Paso Robles
First Crush Wine Making
Freixenet USA
Gloria Ferrer Wines, Sonoma
Freixenet, Spain
Segura Viudes, Spain
Frey Vineyards, Mendocino
Daniel Gehrs Wines, Los Olivos
Riesling 2008, Monterey
Chardonay 2009 (oak free), Central Coast
Merlot 2009, Central Coast
Pinot Noir 2009 limited, Eona Valley
Cabarnet Sauvignon 2009, Central Coast
Zinfandel 2006, Santa Ynez
Syrah 2009, Central Coast
Le Grande Courtage, Burgundy
Sparkling Wines
Grizzly Republic, Paso Robles
Herzog Wine Cellars
Hope Family Wines
Candor Winery, California
Liberty School Winery, Paso Robles
Treana Winery, Paso Robles
Inception Wines, Santa Barbara
Indulge Wines, Santa Barbara
Jada Winery, Paso Robles
JVS Imports
American Whisky
Prichard’s Tennessee Whisky
Prichard’s Double Barrel Bourbon
Prichard’s Sweet Lucy Bourbon Liqueur
Roughstock Montana Single Malt Whiskey
Roughstock Montana Wheat Whiskey
Corsair Artisan Wry Moon Un-Aged Rye Whiskey
Corsair Triple Smoke Whiskey

Ventura Limoncello Company (And a great new Orangecello made from Ventura blood oranges!)
Lone Madrone Winery, Paso Robles
Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition
2010 Gold Medal Winning Wines
CLICK HERE TO VIEW
Maddalena Vineyard Brands–A San Antonio Winery Company
Eberle Winery, Paso Robles
Gaucho Imports, Argentina
Maddalena Wines, Paso Robles, San Simeon, Sierra Madre, Santa Barbara
Sparrow Hawk, Napa
Martian Ranch and Vineyards, Santa Barbara
Match Vineyards, Napa
Michael-David Winery, Lodi
Robert Mondavi Wines
Robert Mondavi Private Selection
Robert Mondavi Winery, Napa Valley
Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi

Pacific Edge Wine & Spirits
Tequila Revolution Silver
Tequila Revolution Reposado Aged 6mos White
Oak Barrels.

Tequila Revolution Anejo Aged 2year White
Oak Barrels

Tequila Revolution Silver 100 PROOF (Special Release)
Calle 23 Blanco
Calle 23 Reposado Aged 6 Mos. White Oak Barrels
Calle 23 Anejo Aged 18 Mos. White Oak Barrels
Patel Winery, Napa
Perlage Wines–The Organic Wine Co., Italy
Prosecco Di Valdobbiadene “Riva Moretta” Docg
Frizzante
Prosecco Di Valdobbiadene “Canah” Spumante Docg
Prosecco Di Valdobbiadene “Animae” Spumante Docg
Rosato Del Veneto Altana Igt
Pinot Grigio Del Veneto Igt
Marche Sangiovese Igt
Terre Di Chieti Igt
Regency Wines
Le Cengle Cotes de Provence, France
Moillard Cotes de Rhone, France
Terra Andina, Chile
Wisteria Winery,Modesto Ca
Malibu Vineyard, Ca
Cuvelier Les Andes, Mendoza, Argentina
Reyes Winery, Agua Dulce
Rosenthal, the Malibu Estate
Roxo Port Cellars, Paso Robles
Santa Rita Hills Winegrowers Association
Weber Wine Company
Fiddlehead
Flying Goat
Cargasacchi
Zotovich
Kessler Haak
Schlossadler International Wines (This table was a treat for me!)
Gold Sekt, Enfenhop, Austria
Gruner Veltliner
Ernst Hoffer, Austria
Kabinett. Kerner, Germany

Huxelrebe Spatlese, HO Becker, Germany
Huxelrebe siegemebe, Becker, Germany
Dornfelder, HO Becker, Germany
Malbec Reserve. Cassione, Argentina
Tinto Bonifacio, Portugal
Cab. Sauvignon/Pinot Noir blend, HO Becker, Germany
Sculpterra Winery, Paso Robles
Edward Sellars Vineyard, Paso Robles
Shai Cellars, Santa Barbara
Sip Malibu Cielo WineBar
Boutique Sake by Smart Assist
Fukuju Junmai
Iikaze Junmai Daiginjo
Shinzui
Oigame Junmai
Tenpouichi Junmai
Zuikan Junmai Ginjo
Osagekko
Karl Strauss Brewing Company, San Diego
Temecula Valley Winegrowers
Wiens Family Cellars
Falkner Winery
Stuart Cellars Vineyard & Winery
Monte de Oro Winery
Cougar Vineyard & Winery

Solsticio
Vampire Vineyards, Paso Robles
VeeV Açaí Spirit
Ventura Limoncello, Ventura
VinVillage
Carpathian Wines, Central Europe
…. Spirit of Jeruzalem, Slovenia
…. Bock Kékfrankos 2008, Hungary
Ricardujs Corculom Winery, Napa
Silverstone Winery, Central Coast
Witch Creek, San Diego
Wedell Cellars, Central Coast
Wilson Creek Winery, Temecula
Yarden, Israel
Zuri Wine Tasting, Redondo Beach

2 thoughts on “My Day at LA Wine Fest 2011

  1. I was completely fixated on your nighty…so, I had to watch the video three times.

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